Hobby-horse.



No. 7|5,887 Patented Dec. I6, |902.

J. W. SMITH.

HOBBY HORSE lAppIication filed May 22, 1902.)

(Nvo Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. SMITH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HOBBY-HORSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,887, dated December16, 1902.

Application led May 22, 1902. Serial No. 108,446. (VNO model.)

To all whom, it may con/@Wm Beit known that I, JOHN W. SMITH, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Hobby-Horses, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing likeparts.

This invention relates to hobby or rocking horses of the class whereinthe body of a horse is mounted upon an upright supporting device adaptedto oscillate in a vertical plane against spring action when the childseated upon the horse-body throws his weight to one or the other side ofthenormal upright position of the supporting device.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide for readyvertical adjustment of the carrier on which the horse-body is mounted toadapt the apparatus for children of different heights.

Another object of my invention is to simplify, strengthen, and improvethe construction of the whole apparatus.

These and otherl novel features of my vinvention will be hereinafterdescribed,and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure l is a side elevation of a hobbyhorse embodying one form of myinvention, the casing for the lower part thereof being shown in verticalsection. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in part on the line x00, Fig. l,the horse-body being omitted. Fig. .3 is a transverse section on theline on oo', Fig. l, looking down; and Fig. 4 is a perspective detail,enlarged, of the foot and lower end of the lower member of the carrier.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a suitable supporting-stand ct, which may beof cast-iron or other material, is shown as provided with a rigidupturned standard a', bifurcated at its upper end and enlarged to formtwo opposite and parallel substantially circular cheeks a2, whichconstitute a bearing for the carrier on which the horse-body or similardevice H, Fig. 1, is mounted, and a pivot-pin a3 is secured in thecheeks at their centers. The

carrier is made longitudinally extensible or adjustable in order thatthe height of the horse-body may be adjusted to children of differentages, and herein I have shown the carrier as comprising two members B C.The member B or lower member is shown as an elongated bar having flangesb at its longitudinal edges and on opposite sides thereof to formbetween them longitudinal guidegrooves 19X (see Figs. 3 and 4) toreceive the member C, said member being bifurcated for the greater partof its length to present two separated and parallel legs c, which enterthe guide grooves bx and slide longitudinally therein, the material ofthe member B between the ianges b entering between said legs. The memberB is provided with a series of holes b', adapted to receive a pin orbolt c', which passes through oppositeV holes in the lower-portion ofthe legs o of the member C to retain the two members of the carrier inrelative adj usted position. The lower end of the member B is shown asprovided with a circular foot b2, (see Fig. 4,) havinga central hole b3to receive the fulcrum-pin as, said foot being interposed between thecheeks a2 of the standard, and between the cheeks the standard isconcaved, as at a4, (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) corresponding incurvature to the periphery of the foot. The carrier'as a whole is thusadapted to oscillate or intersecting said fulcrum at right anglesthereto, the cheeks cooperating with the foot b2 to firmly and securelysupport and provide a bearing for the carrier. If desired, the lower endof the carrier may be provided with a short segmental liange b4 on itsopposite faces to ride upon the peripheries of the cheeks. I have shownherein a slot-and-pin limiting device to limit the amplitude ofoscillation of the carrier, and I have shown a segmental slot b5 in thefoot b2, concentric with its center, to be entered by a pin a5, passedtransversely through and supported in the cheeks at the lower partthereof. The member C of the carrier has at its upper end an enlargementor head OX, on which the` horse-body is secured in any suitable manner.

Referring to Fig. l, the member B of the carrier is shown as provided onits fore-andaft edges with depending and diverging arms ,56, whichextend from at or near the upper ICC free ends of suitable springs S,herein shown as leaf-springs rigidly secured by screws or otherfastenings SX to the stand in front and at the back of the standard a',the springs acting in opposite directions and their force beingtransmitted by or through the diverging and depending arms bon thecarrier to a point well above its fulcrum. Manifestly the normaltendency of the springs is to center the carrier and the parts mountedor supported thereupon in upright central position, (shown in Fig. 1,)and when the child is seated upon the horse-body he can by throwing hisweight forward or back cause the carrier to swing in one direction orthe other, the spring toward which such movementis directed beingcompressed while the other spring relaxes, and vice Versa. Relatively'light springs may be employed, and the movement of the horsebody will beeasy, yet sufficiently lively or active to provide the requisite motionto the horse-body.

The lower portion of the apparatus is prefably inclosed in a suitablecasing, and in Fig. l the casing M is shown in section as surroundingthe springs and the bearing of the carrier, the said casing having anopening, as M', to permit the oscillating movement of the carrier.

The adjustment of the carrier vertically is readily and quicklyeffected, and the manner in which the two members of said carriercooperate provides for strength and rigidity with lightness.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction andarrangement herein shown, as the same may be modified in differentparticulars by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Pat-ent, is-

1. In a hobby-horse, a supporting-base, an oscillating carrier pivotallymounted thereon, a horse-body or the like secured to the upper end ofthe carrier, means to yieldingly and normally center the latter inupright position, and means to positively limit the swinging movement ofthe carrier.

2. In a hobbyhorse,asupporting-stand having a standard provided with abearing, a longitudinally-extensible carrier mounted in said bearing tooscillate in a Vertical plane, a horse-body secured to the upper end ofthe carrier, oppositely-acting springs to coperate with and normallycenter the carrier in upright position, and means to positively limitthe amplitude of oscillation of the carrier.

3. In a hobby-horse,a supporting-stand having a standard, bifurcated atits upper end to present two parallel, circular cheeks, a carrier havinga corresponding circular and flattened foot interposed betweenthe'cheeks, a

transverse pivot therethrough on which the carrier swings in a verticalplane, oppositelyacting springs mounted on the stand and cooperatingWith the carrier, to normally maintain it in upright, central position,and a horse-body or the like secured to the upper end of the carrier.

4. In a hobby-horse,a supporting-stand having a standard bifurcated atits upper end to present two parallel, circular cheeks, a carrier havinga corresponding circular and flattened foot interposed between thecheeks, a transverse pivot therethrough on which the carrier swings in avertical plane, a segmental slot in the foot concentric with itsfulcrum, a fixed pin extended into the slot, to limit oscillation of thecarrier, and springs mounted on the stand and oppositely acting upon thecarrier.

5. In a hobbyhorse,a supporting-base,alongitudinally-adjustable,oscillating carrier pivotally mounted thereon,a horse-body or the like secured to the upper end of the carrier,diverging arms depending from the carrier above its pivot and in thepath of movement of the carrier, and springs mounted on the stand infront of and behind the pivot respectively and coperating with saidarms, to normally center the carrier in upright position.

6. Inahobbyhorse,asupporting-stand having a standard thereon, a two-partcarrier pivotally mounted thereon to oscillate in a vertical plane, saidcarriercomprising a lower member havinglongitudiual guide-grooves on itsopposite sides, and a slide member bifurcated to embrace and slide inthe guidegrooves of the lower member, a device to maintain said membersin adjusted relative position, a horse-body on the slide member,oppositelyacting springs mounted on the stand in front of and behind thestandard, and means to transmit the force of the springs to the carrierabove its fulcrum or pivot.

7. In a hobby-horse, a supporting-base, a carrier pivotally connected atits lower end with the stand, a horse-body or the like on the upper endof the carrier, the latter being oscillatable on its pivot in a verticalplane, leaf-springs on the stand and acting in opposite directions, andmeans to transmit the force of the springs to the carrier at a distanceabove its pivot, the springs acting to return the carrier to central,upright position when deflected therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses JOHN W. SMITII.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. EDWARDS, EMILY C. HoDGEs.

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